Gwinnett voters to consider SPLOST without a list of specific transportation projects

The Winking family hopes money from a penny sales tax will fund a traffic light near their home.

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- Gwinnett County voters will decide Tuesday whether or not to extend a penny sales tax, but they'll do it without a list of specific transportation projects to consider.

Some opponents of the Special Local Option Sales Tax say it's a reason to vote "no." The county says it's the way SPLOST votes have always been handled.

"What we've found is, (voters) need to know the categories and what each category will do," said Kim Conroy, Chief Engineer for Gwinnett County's Department of Transportation.

Last month, 11Alive's Commuter Dude introduced us to the Winking family, who have asked for a traffic light that would help them turn out of their neighborhood onto Suwanee Dam Road.

Improvements to that intersection is on a long list of potential projects, but the Winkings won't know if it will make the final cut until after Tuesday, if voters approve an extension of the tax.

The citizens committee that would help determine the final list of transportation projects has said intersection improvements are a top priority.

Among the committee's recommendations are to allocate $47 million from the sales tax for improvements to major roads in Gwinnett County, $15 million for roads and sidewalks around schools, and $700,000 for the 25 miles of unpaved roads in Gwinnett County.

The committee wants $27 million to go toward sidewalks, and $33 million for intersections.

If the SPLOST is approved, the citizens committee will hold hearings to get the public's input on creating a final list of projects to be funded. Gwinnett commissioners would have to approve the list.